Barge.



No. 819,633. PATENTED MAY 1, 1906. A. M. BOWMAN.

BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.Z.1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. BOWMAN, OF AVALON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BARGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application filed February 2 1905. Serial No. 243,804.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avalon, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved barge. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view in vertical section and elevation, partly broken away, on an enlarged scale, showing the construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line IV IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of .one end of the barge, showing a modified construction. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the framing construction.

My invention refers to improvements in barges, and relates to the construction thereof, the barge consisting of part metal and part wood so combined and arranged as to provide for the various strains incident to structures of this kind and for the various conditions and contingencies arising in servicewith a view to economy in construction, durability, and adaptability to the purposes in view.

In my invention I have utilized the structural strength incident to girder construction which I have employed for the sides of the vessel, so as to overcome breaking or shearing strains arising in service and under various distributions of the load. The sides are composed of a suitable girder framework and are covered with plates adapted also to resist the wear and impact of service, while the bottom of the vessel is composed of an outer layer of wood with an inner foundation, together with suitable cross members for distributing the load to the side girders and adapted to provide a proper foundation therefor.

Various other features of construction, advantage, and novelty will be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, the sides of the vessel comprising the girders extend from one end to the other and consist of lower chord member 2 of angle-bar or other suitable structural form, while the upper chord is composed of a Z-bar 3, with a supplemental angle-bar 4 or other suitable structural shape secured underneath it, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The outer flanges of the angles 2 4 and the Z-bar 3 are in alinement and are connected at intervals by vertical stiffeners, ribs, or stud members 5 of Z-bar, angle, or other suitable form riveted to the side plates 20. At various points throughout the length of the structure these stiffeners are riveted to the lower and upper chord members, so as to provide additional strength, as shown at 5. At each end of the vessel supplemental reinforcing end struts 3 are sloped upwardly and forwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and are connected with end head-logs 6 of box form, as shown, composed of structural steel, as channels and plates, with an upper platform 7, providin a walkw. y across each end of the barge. Iiongitudinal gunwales are also provided by planks 8, laid along the upper faces of the upper and lower chords.

The stiffeners 5, connected with the upper and lower chords of the girder, are further reinforced by gusset-plates 9, set against the web of the .Z-bar stiffeners, to which they are riveted, being also riveted to cross-sills or floor-beams 10, connected, as aforesaid, to the stiffeners at each side, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6, the whole construction forming a very rigid connection between the side girders and cross-beams. Beneath these cross-beams 10, arranged longitudinally for the full length of the barge and somewhat closely adjacent to each other, are a series of stringers 11, of Wood, preferably oak or other hard wood, which constitute a foundation for the lower floor. This floor consists of a continuous sheathing 12, of plank, preferably white pine or other suitable wood, nailed against the stringers 11 and connected with the lower chord members 2 by bolts or rivets 1 3 passing through the horizontal flange of the angle, referably with an intervening gasket or pac ring-strip 14 of rubber or other suitable material. It will be understood that these oints and also the joints between the planks of the floor may be suitably calked or otherwise rendered water-tight.

The entire floor of the barge as thus constructed is composed of planking, and as this planking is continuously submerged in the water it is protected from rotting or wear and being comparatively inexpensive greatly adds to the economy of construction, while not in any way reducing the efficiency and durability of the barge. For the purpose of protecting the flooring at each end from ice or other obstructions the upwardly-curving ends may be covered by sheet metal 12, or I may employ the construction shown in Fig. 5, wherein the bottom planking is terminated at or about the end of the flat portion of the bottom, the curved ends from such point up to the end head-logs 6 consisting of plates 15, secured to curved stringers 11, forming continuations of stringers 11 of any suitable flanged structural shape, as angle or 2 bars.

For the purpose of providing a stiff solid attachment for the rear ends of such curved stringers 11 I em loy a cross-bar 17 of Z shape, against which the flat plank-section of the flooring also abuts, thereby providing a flush alinement with the curved end plates, the plates 15 being riveted to the lower flange of bar 17. The longitudinal stringers 11 and 1 1 also abut against the upper andlower opposite portions of Z-bar 17 and may be secured to the flanges thereof. This cross member 17 is further strengthened and reinforced by a channel 18, set across from side to side, such channel and bar 17 being riveted to either the studding members 5 or to supplemental angles 19, incorporated with the side sheathing.

The sides of the vessel are composed of plates 20, entirely covering the girder-frame sides from end to end and for the full height, as shown, the plates being connected at intervals by overlapping splice-plates 21;

Check-posts 22 are incorporated with the framework at the ends and along the sides wherever desirable or necessary, while pumping-wells 2-3 may also be located at intervals, as well as ladders or any other suitable or necessary features. The barge may be also braced across the top by cross-braces 24, which may correspond with lower beams 10 in location, but which may be entirely dispensed with, if desired, according to the use for which the bar e is designed, and it will be understood thatt ese cross-braces are not absol'utely essential.

As thus constructed the barge is extremely strong and rigid, the sides practically constituting girders of great strength and resistance' to the strains incident to the varying loads carried, while the ends of the vessel are further strengthened and reinforced by means of the front and backwardly extending risers and sills.

An especial advantage of the planking bottom is that in case of injury or destruction it may be readily and quickly renewed at small expense, while the main body portion of the barge is practically indestructible by the ordinary wear or lapse of time.

It will be understood that the merits of the invention do not depend particularly upon the specific construction, size, or design, but that these featuresmay be changed or varied within wide limits by the designing builder or skilled mechanic, and all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. In a barge, the combination of sides composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, interveningstud members having inner and outer parallel flanges, with side plates secured thereon, cross connecting bracing elements, and a floor composed of wood, substantially as set forth.

2. In a barge, the combination of sides composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, intervening stud members having inner and outer parallel flanges, with side plates secured thereon, cross connecting bracing elements, and a floor composed of wood, sloping upwardly at each end and providing prow extremities, substantially as set forth.

3. In a barge, the combination of sides composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, intervening stud members having inner and outer parallel flanges, with side plates secured thereon, cross connecting bracing elements, and a floor composed of wood, sloping upwardly at each end and pro viding prow extremities, with supplemental prow-plates forming continuations of the bottom and curving upwardly at each end, substantially as set forth.

4. In a barge, the combination of sides 'composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, intervening stud members having inner and outer parallel flanges, with side plates secured thereon, cross-connecting bracing elements, supplemental reinforcing head-logs made of flanged members, and a floor composed of wood, substantially as set forth.

5. In a barge, the combination of sides composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, reinforcing headlogs at each end formed of flanged elements, superimposed gunwale elements tapering upwardly toward each end, vertical stud members extending from the, top to the bottom elements of the side girders and provided with outer and inner attaching-flanges, side plates secured thereon, cross-connecting bracing elements, and a floor composed of wood, substantially as set forth.

6. In a barge, the combination of sides composed of a skeleton girder-framework having upper and lower longitudinal flanged elements, reinforcing head-logs at each end formed of flanged elements, superimposed gunwale elements tapering upwardly toward each end, vertical stud members extending from the top to the bottom elements of the side girders and provided with outer and inner attaching-flanges, side plates secured thereon, cross-connecting bracing elements, and a floor composed of wood, with supplemental prow-plates curving upwardly at each end, substantially as set forth.

7. In barge construction, the combination of a gunwale element consisting of a structural bar having oppositely-located vertical flanges and an intervening web portion, a lower flanged structural element, intervening connecting stud elements having outer flanges parallel With the flanges of said elements, and side plates secured thereon, substantially as set forth.

8. In barge construction, the combination of a gunwale element consisting of a structural bar having oppositely-located vertical flanges and an intervening web portion, a lower flanged structural element, intervening connecting stud elements having outer flanges parallel with the flanges of said elements, and side plates secured thereon, with a bottom composed of wood secured to the inwardlyextending flanges of said lower element, substantially as set forth.

9. In barge construction, the combination of a gunwale element consisting of a structural bar having oppositely-located vertical flanges and an intervening web portion, a lower flanged structural element, intervening connecting stud elements having outer flanges parallel with the flanges of-said elements, and side plates secured thereon, and a bottom composed of wood secured to the inwardlyextending flanges of said lower element, with intervening packing-strips, substantially, as I set forth. f

10. In barge construction, the combination with slde plates, of gunwale members consisting of structural bars having outer and inner vertical flanges, an intervening web, and a plank walkway laid thereon, substantially as set forth.

1 1. In barge construction, the combination with side plates, of gunwale members consisting of structural bars having outer and inner vertical flanges, an intervening web, and a plank walkway laid thereon, said outer flanges being secured to the plate, and cross-bracing elements secured to the inner flanges, substantially as set forth.

12. In barge construction, the combination With side plates and vertical Z-bar stud members, of Z-bar gunwale members secured to the .plates, vertical Z-bar stud elements secured to the plate, lower longitudinal bottom members secured to said stud elements, cross bracing elements secured to said stud members, lower longitudinal stringers, and a floor composed of Wood secured to the inwardlyeXtending flanges of said lower longitudinal members, substantially as set forth.

13. In a barge, the combination with side members formed of structural shapes, of cross connecting 2 -bar members having lower and upper flanges, a floor composed of wood abutting against said cross members, a sheet-metal prow secured to the lower flanges of said cross members, and a supplemental cross-bracing element secured to the sides and to the upper flange of said cross members, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I aflix in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. BOWMAN.

my signature Witnesses:

CHAS. W. V. FEIGEL, C. M. CLARKE. 

